Steam-separator.



H. H. TRACY.

STEAM SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1914.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

WITNESSES INVENTOR are.

HAYDEN H. TRACY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F GENE-HALF TO 111 E BOYRIE, 0F S AN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

saaeia-sarasaaea.

To all whom it ma 1 concern;

Be it known t at I, HAYDEN H. -TRACY, a citizen 'of the United States, and resident of the city of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SteamSeparat ors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam separators tus, the condition known as" foaming may. be described as a mass of bubbles entirely.

filling the steam space of the boiler and so durable that they remain a considerable time without. breaking. Therefore, instead of only steam leaving the boiler, the discharge is composed of foam which becomes broken up in its journey to the engine and the envelops of the bubbles enter the cylinder as water, reducing the .efliciency of the engine and sometimes causing serious damage. Another difliculty is that scum or earthy matter rides out on the bubbles -or possibly inside themand deposits as a soft scale in sup'erheaters, steam piping and on the blades of steam turbines, therebyinterfering with their proper and eflicient performance.

To the useful end therefore of obviating these troubles and attaining the beneficial effects due to both dry and clean steam at all times, my invention consists in means whereby the steam passes among a series of vertical gutter shaped baffles staggered in relation to each other and having communication with a steam conduit leading to the main outlet of the boiler.

I will describe and illustrate my improvement as applied to a plain cylindrical boiler, or it may also be considered as the elevated steam and water drum of a water tube boiler.

For more complete comprehension of my invention, reference must be had to the accompanying' drawings forming part of this Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 12, 19115.

Application filedIebruary S, 1914. serialltTo. 816,226.

specification, .in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the several figures.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a boiler showing the preferred location of the separatorand for a better idea ofthe relative proportions it may be assumed it is drawn to a. scale of 1" to the foot. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation through .the line A-A and is intended to show the relative positions of the banks of bafiies, steam conduit and water drainage devices. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view on the line BB showing the rel'ativeposition of the bafilesandthe gutters comprising them-wherein the ribbons'of steam are formed and required to make many 90 degree bends before reaching the steam conduit. This drawing is full size. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View of an alternative form of gutter baffle whereby the ribbons of steam are required to bend 180 degrees. This drawing is also full size.

In said drawings: The ,numeral'll indicates the shell of the boiler; I

12 is the main steam outlet. 13 and 13 are the closed ends of the st am conduit. 144, 14, 1 1"," 14, 14, 14., 14, 1 1 are series of gutter baflies among which the steam must pass in order to reach the steam oonduit 17.

15 and 15 are cover bafiles.

16 and 16 are floor plates below the bafiles.

17 is the steam conduit connected to the outlet 11.

18, 18), 18", and 18 are ports through which the purified steam must pass in order to reach the conduit 17.

19 is the water drain pipe.

plates above the 21 is a check valve at the lowermost end and 16 From'thence the water can emerge at bafiles 14 and 14 and fall to the water level CC; also part of it may be carried forward as a liquidthrough the ports 18 and 18? to the central conduit 17 thence through the drain pipe 19 to thewater level. The steam, freed from moisture and dirt passes through the ports 18 and 18" to the centralconduit 17, on its way to the main outlet 12.

Many experiments with different-designs during the past two years have shown the necessity of dividing the steam into many small strips or ribbons and also providing recesses to catch the water and prevent it being picked up by the passing steam and carried forwardwith it to the steam conduit. This retreat for the separated moisture is fully provided in the gutters and is a very important part of'the invention.

An important purpose of the narrow spaces between the backs and the fronts of the gutters, is that the steam bubbles in passing through these spaces become torn and broken against the first few rows of baflles whereupon the moisture, previously comprising the skins or envelops of the bubbles, is readily separated from the steam as the latter passes through the remaining rows of baflles.

Although the construction and arrangement of the separator as herein described is what I prefer to use, it must be understood that I do not limit myself thereto, as the same may be modified in various ways accordingito skill and judgment-as by placing the separator transversely of the boiler or providing bafileson one-side only, of the steam conduit.

What I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent is as follows;

1. In a steam separator of the internal type, located within the upper portion of the boiler and receiving moisture laden steam therefrom,the combination of a horizontal steam conduit with closed ends and a connection to the main steam outlet of the boiler; steam inlet ports in the side Walls of the conduit; staggered rows of gutter bafiles in connection with said inlet ports and adjacent to the side walls of the conduit; a steam tight casing inclosing the top, bottom and ends of the rows of bafiies and attached to the side walls of the conduit.

2. In a steamseparator of the internal type, located within the upperfport'ion of the boiler and receiving moisture laden steam therefrom,.-the combination of a horizontal steam conduit with closed ends and a connection to the main steam outlet of the boiler; steam inlet ports in the sidewalls of the conduit; staggered rows of gutter bafiies in connection with said inlet ports and adjacent to the side walls of the conduit; a steam tight casing inclosing the top, bottom and ends of the'rows of bafiies and attached to the side walls of the conduit; a water drain pipe entering the bottom of the steam conduit and a check valve on the lowermost end of the drain pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have signed in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

H. H. TRACY.

Witnesses:

R. S. PENNIMAN, L. B. CHAPMAN. 

